Camera navigation in a gaming environment

ABSTRACT

A system and method for camera navigation that provides a player with an unobstructed, non-disorienting view of a target is provided. The system includes a memory for storing a camera navigation/control model, a central processing unit for executing the camera navigation/control model to provide unobstructed and non-disorienting target character views, and a graphics processing unit configured to render the unobstructed views of the target in an image for display. In addition, the camera navigation/control model includes an object detection model, line-of-sight restoration models to restore a line-of-sight view of an obstructed target, and a camera navigation path model. In the method, a collision probe is sent on a straight line path between a camera and a target whereby line-of-sight obstructions are detected if the probe intersects with polygonal sides of an object. A line-of-sight restoration method is used to move the camera to provide an unobstructed view of the target.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/268,495, filed Oct. 9, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,788 and entitled “System and Method for Camera Navigation,” which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/328,488, filed Oct. 10, 2001 and entitled “Camera Navigation in a Game Environment.” The disclosure of these applications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to gaming environments and more particularly to a system and method for camera navigation.

2. Description of the Background Art

Camera navigation in a gaming environment poses many challenges for game developers. Game cameras provide players with multiple views of game characters. It is important that the cameras provide a player with unobstructed views that provide clear information on a character's surrounding environment. The player uses the information provided by the multiple cameras to decide how the character responds to game situations. However, camera navigation in games can be complicated, particularly in games with twisty passages, narrow paths, and with obstacles such as trees and rocks, for example. In such games, line-of sight obstacles may frequently obscure the player's view.

Camera navigation is further complicated in action, adventure, or exploration games in which characters move quickly and in many directions. Quick character motion typically includes complex motion, such as motion of characters engaged in combat. Cameras need to be optimally positioned to enable the player to clearly see the game, and to allow the player to base character control decisions upon sensory information obtained from the multiple views. However, games that involve quick translations in camera location, quick rotations in camera orientation, or scene cuts from one camera with a given orientation to a second camera with an incongruous orientation, may disorient the player. Therefore, game designers must design camera navigation systems based on multiple constraints: physical constraints of the players and geometric constraints of the game.

It would be advantageous to implement a camera navigation system that balances the multiple constraints placed on the cameras, and provides game players with clear, non-disorienting views of game characters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for camera navigation is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes sending a collision probe on a straight line path between a camera and a target, detecting line-of-sight obstructions between the camera and the target, and moving the camera according to one or more line-of-sight restoration methods to provide an unobstructed view of the target. In one embodiment of the invention, line-of-sight obstructions are detected when the collision probe intersects one or more polygonal sides of one or more objects.

In one embodiment of the invention, the line-of-sight restoration method associates unit normal vectors to the one or more intersected polygonal sides, sums the unit normal vectors to generate a resultant displacement vector, and displaces the camera from a current location to a new location by the resultant displacement vector.

In another embodiment of the invention, the line-of-sight restoration method assigns the one or more intersected polygonal sides into one or more categories, then either rotates the camera by an angle θ about the target or moves the camera closer to the target and then rotates by the angle θ, based upon the assigned categories.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the line of sight restoration method moves the camera to one or more old target locations until the unobstructed view of the target is generated.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the method for camera navigation smoothes a camera navigation path by computing velocity attenuation vectors based on the wiggling of the camera navigation path, adding each velocity attenuation vector to an associated camera velocity vector to generate attenuated camera velocity vectors, and using the camera navigation path and the attenuated camera velocity vectors to generate a smoothed camera navigation path.

In another embodiment of the invention, the system includes a memory configured to store a camera navigation/control model, a central processing unit configured to select a camera position for avoiding objects which obstruct a line-of-sight view of a target in accordance with the camera navigation/control model, and a graphics processing unit configured to render an unobstructed view of the target in an image for display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic entertainment system, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a camera navigation system, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a coordinate system used to define a camera rotation matrix, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a fixed point configuration for a special case camera, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B illustrates a fixed offset configuration for a special case camera, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4C illustrates a first indexing configuration for a special case camera, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4D illustrates a second indexing configuration for a special case camera, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4E illustrates an anchor point configuration for a special case camera, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates detection of line-of-sight obstacles, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates a first line-of-sight restoration method, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6B illustrates a resultant displacement vector R as a sum of unit normal vectors r, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a second line-of site restoration method, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a third line-of site restoration method, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an emergency line-of-sight restoration method, according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates camera path smoothing, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

A system and method of camera navigation that balance physical player constraints and game geometry constraints to produce a non-disorienting player view is described herein. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed, such as prioritized entry points to a main rendering camera, selection of a camera navigation configuration, control of a camera rotation speed, obstacle detection and avoidance, emergency line-of-sight restoration, and smoothing of a camera navigation path.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic entertainment system 100, according to one embodiment of the invention. System 100 includes, but is not limited to, a main memory 110, a central processing unit (CPU) 112, a vector processing unit (VPU) 113, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 114, an input/output processor (IOP) 116, an IOP memory 118, a controller interface 120, a memory card 122, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface 124, and an IEEE 1394 interface 126. System 100 also includes an operating system read-only memory (OS ROM) 128, a sound processing unit (SPU) 132, an optical disc control unit 134, and a hard disc drive (HDD) 136, which are connected via a bus 146 to IOP 116.

CPU 112, VPU 113, GPU 114, and IOP 116 communicate via a system bus 144. CPU 112 communicates with main memory 110 via a dedicated bus 142. VPU 113 and GPU 114 may also communicate via a dedicated bus 140.

CPU 112 executes programs stored in OS ROM 128 and main memory 110. Main memory 110 may contain pre-stored programs and may also contain programs transferred via IOP 116 from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM (not shown) using optical disc control unit 134. IOP 116 controls data exchanges between CPU 112, VPU 113, GPU 114 and other devices of system 100, such as controller interface 120.

Main memory 110 includes, but is not limited to, a program having game instructions including a camera navigation/control model. The program is preferably loaded from a DVD-ROM via optical disc control unit 134 into main memory 110. CPU 112, in conjunction with VPU 113, GPU 114, and SPU 132, executes the game instructions and generates rendering instructions in accordance with the camera navigation/control model. GPU 114 executes the rendering instructions from CPU 112 and VPU 113 to produce images for display on a display device (not shown). The user may also instruct CPU 112 to store certain game information on memory card 122. Other devices may be connected to system 100 via USB interface 124 and IEEE 1394 interface 126.

FIG. 2 illustrates a camera navigation system 200, according to one embodiment of the invention. Camera navigation system 200 includes a main rendering camera 205 which follows a character 210, one or more special case cameras 215 which provide alternate views to complement main rendering camera 205, and a debugging camera 220. Camera navigation system 200 may include a plurality of main rendering cameras 205, where each main rendering camera 205 may be associated with other characters (not shown). In one embodiment of the invention, CPU 112 assigns different priority levels to cameras 205 and 215. For example, CPU 112 may assign a highest priority level to main rendering camera 205. Any camera assigned the highest priority level is always running (i.e., actively tracking and viewing a scene), but may be preempted as the scene is viewed by other cameras assigned lower priority levels.

For example, main rendering camera 205 may be viewing character 210 on board a submarine walking towards a periscope 225. Then, CPU 112 cuts to special case camera 215 b for an aerial view of a ship 230 and portion of periscope 225 above an ocean's surface (not shown). Next, CPU 112 cuts to main rendering camera 205 for a view of character 210 peering through periscope 225. Since main rendering camera 205 is always tracking character 210, even when main camera 205's view is not rendered for display (such as when the aerial view captured by special case camera 215 b is rendered for display), CPU 112 can instantaneously cut from a display of the view captured by special case camera 215 b to a display of the view of character 210 at periscope 225 rendered by main camera 205 without hesitation or pause in the displayed views. In other words, a cut or a blend from special case camera 215 b to main rendering camera 205 can occur smoothly, since main rendering camera 205 is continuously running, and since the lower priority level cameras have prioritized entry points into main rendering camera 205. If main rendering camera 205 was not continuously running, then state variables associated with main rendering camera 205 would need to be stored to and retrieved from a stack or some other game memory structure upon termination and initiation of main rendering camera 205, respectively. This process of storing and retrieving state variables as a scene is viewed by different cameras can introduce delays into rendering and display of the scene.

In another embodiment of the invention, electronic entertainment system 100 is configured with a joystick driven debugging camera 220 that allows players to observe location and behavior of cameras 205 and 215, and to permit the players to make adjustments to cameras 205 and 215, if so desired.

In another embodiment of the invention, electronic entertainment system 100 selects positions for cameras 205 and 215 such that a player can clearly see character 210 or any other action or scene. Camera position is comprised of two parts: camera location and camera orientation. In this embodiment of the invention, camera location is independent of camera orientation. Poor camera location may eliminate a player's line-of-sight view of character 210, for example. Camera location as associated with various camera navigation configurations will be discussed further below in conjunction with FIGS. 4A-4E. Once system 100 has selected a camera navigation configuration, system 100 then controls camera orientation and rotation to enable the player to follow character 210 or any other game actions without player disorientation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a coordinate system used to define a camera rotation matrix, according to one embodiment of the invention. System 100 builds a camera rotation matrix (not shown) that describes camera orientation using three orthogonal unit vectors. In order to build the camera rotation matrix, system 100 uses a camera location 305, a character location 310, and an upward unit vector 315. Upward unit vector 315 is directed anti-parallel (i.e., in an opposite direction) to a gravitational field vector (not shown). A first unit vector 320 is directed from camera location 305 to character location 310. A second unit vector 325 is a vector cross product of upward unit vector 315 with first unit vector 320. A third unit vector 330 is the vector cross product of first unit vector 320 with second unit vector 325. System 100 can now define any orientation of cameras 205 and 215 (FIG. 2) by rotation angles about three axes defined by orthogonal unit vectors 320, 325, and 330. For example, to specify a given orientation for camera 205, system 100 defines a set of rotation angles which comprise the camera rotation matrix.

In one embodiment of the invention, system 100 uses the camera rotation matrix to slow down rotation of camera 205 as a distance between camera 205 and character 210, for example, becomes small. Slowing rotation speed of camera 205 as the distance between camera 205 and character 210 becomes small prevents rapid, camera-induced motion of a rendered display that may otherwise disorient a player viewing the display. According to the invention, a method to slow camera rotation speed is to use the camera rotation matrix to interpolate an angle θ, where θ is defined between a camera view direction vector 335 and first unit vector 320. Camera view direction vector 335 is oriented along a direction that camera 205, located at camera location 305, is pointed. When the angle θ between camera view direction vector 335 and first unit vector 320 is interpolated into smaller angular increments (not shown), system 100 may reorient camera 205 according to the smaller angular increments, thus decreasing camera 205's rotation speed.

Slow rotation of camera 205 combined with small changes in camera location 305 can be combined to smoothly blend from a first camera view of character 210 to a second camera view of character 210.

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate camera navigation configurations for special case cameras 215 (FIG. 2). Typically, main rendering camera 205 (FIG. 2) follows character 210 (FIG. 2), and special case cameras 215 (FIG. 2) are specifically configured to capture alternate views or views not accessible to main rendering camera 205. FIG. 4A illustrates a fixed point configuration for a special case camera 405 a, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the FIG. 4 exemplary embodiment, special case camera 405 a is located at a fixed point P₁ on a golf course. Although camera 405 a may rotate, camera 405 a may not change location, and consequently camera 405 a is prevented from moving through obstacles (not shown) by the nature of its function.

FIG. 4B illustrates a fixed offset configuration for a special case camera 405 b, according to one embodiment of the invention. Special case camera 405 b is configured to maintain a fixed offset vector r_(o) from a target 410. In other words, a location of camera 405 b is defined by a vector relation r_(l)=r_(l)+r_(o), where n is a location vector of special case camera 405 b, and r_(t) is a location vector of target 410. As an exemplary embodiment of the invention, system 100 may use special case camera 405 b to view target 410 walking around a catwalk (not shown), for example.

FIG. 4C illustrates a first indexing configuration for a special case camera 405 c, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4C includes a spline 415, a target 420, a reference line vector r_(rl) directed from a start point SP to an end point EP, a target location vector r_(t) directed from the start point SP to target 420, and a unit vector n directed along reference line vector r_(rl). System 100 indexes a location d₁ of special case camera 405 c along spline 415 to a projection of the target location vector r_(t) along the reference line vector r_(rl). For example, the location of special case camera 405 c along spline 415 may be a function f of a parameter t, where t is a normalized component of r_(t) along the reference line vector r_(rl). In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, d₁=f(t), where t=(r_(t)·n)/|r_(rl)|. The scope of the invention covers any function f.

FIG. 4D illustrates a second indexing configuration for a special case camera 405 d, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4D includes a spline 425, a target 430, a point P₂, and a distance r between target 430 and the point P₂. System 100 indexes a location d₂ of special case camera 405 d along spline 425 to the distance r between target 430 and the point P₂. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the location d₂ of special case camera 405 d along spline 425 is a function g of the distance r, where d₂=g(r). The scope of the invention covers any function g. Although the FIG. 4D embodiment of the invention illustrates target 430 constrained to a plane 435, the scope of the invention covers any three dimensional displacement of target 430 relative to the point P₂. For example, target 430 may be located at any point on a spherical shell of radius r centered about the point P₂.

FIG. 4E illustrates an anchor point configuration for a special case camera 405 e, according to one embodiment of the invention. System 100 locates special case camera 405 e at a given fixed distance d₃ from an anchor point P₃, such that a target 440 is along a line-of-sight between camera 405 e and the anchor point P₃. The scope of the invention covers target 440 located anywhere in a three-dimensional space about anchor point P₃. For example, when target 440 moves anywhere in the three-dimensional space surrounding the anchor point P₃, special case camera 405 e moves along a spherical shell (not shown) surrounding the anchor point P₃ such that target 440 is between special case camera 405 e and the anchor point P₃. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, camera 405 e may be configured to move along the spherical shell such that camera 405 e is between the anchor point P₃ and target 440.

FIG. 5 illustrates detection of line-of-sight obstacles, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 includes a main camera 505, a target 510, one or more obstacles 515, and a spherical collision probe 520. Since main camera 505 is following target 510, it is preferred that main camera 505 generally avoid obstacles 515 to keep game action associated with target 510 in view for a player. However, obstacles 515 may break a line-of-sight between main camera 505 and target 510, particularly in games with complex terrain, for example. In operation, system 100 sends spherical collision probe 520 with a predetermined radius r along the line-of-sight connecting main camera 505 to target 510 to determine if the line-of-sight is broken.

If spherical collision probe 520 does not intersect any obstacles 515, then the line-of-sight is unobstructed and system 100 does not employ any line-of-sight restoration methods. However, if spherical collision probe 520 intersects one or more obstacles 515, such as obstacles 515 a-515 c, then the line-of-sight path is obstructed, and system 100 initiates one or more line-of-sight restoration methods. Line-of-sight restoration methods are discussed further below in conjunction with FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 6A illustrates a first line-of-sight restoration method 600, according to one embodiment of the invention. Line-of-sight restoration method 600 restores a line-of-sight between a main camera 605 located at a position vector r_(A) and a target 610 by first computing a resultant displacement vector R, and then relocating main camera 605 to a position vector r_(B)=r_(A)+R. In operation, system 100 constructs a straight line 620 a from camera 605 located at position vector r_(A) to target 610 that passes through a center of a collision probe 625. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, straight line 620 a intersects one or more polygonal sides 630 of one or more objects 615, where each object 615 is typically constructed from multiple polygonal sides 630. Next, system 100 associates a unit normal vector r with each polygon side 630 that is intersected by straight line 620 a.

FIG. 6B illustrates the resultant displacement vector R as a sum of the unit normal vectors r, according to one embodiment of the invention. In operation, system 100 adds the unit normal vectors r to generate the resultant vector R. That is, R=r₁+r₂+r₃+r₄+r₅+r₆, where r₁ and r₃ are unit vectors normal to polygonal sides 630 a and 630 b, respectively, of object 615 a intersected by straight line 620 a, r₂ and r₄ are unit vectors normal to polygonal sides 630 c and 630 d, respectively, of object 615 b intersected by straight line 620 a, and r₅ and r₆ are unit vectors normal to polygonal sides 630 e and 630 f, respectively, of object 615 c intersected by straight line 620 a. Referring back to FIG. 6A, system 100 relocates camera 605 to position vector r_(B)=r_(A)+R. Typically, a new line-of-sight along a straight line 620 b is unobstructed by obstacles 615 a-615 c. However, other obstacles may obstruct the new line-of-sight, and if so, system 100 may repeat the first line-of-sight restoration method 600 or use other line-of-sight restoration methods.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second line-of site restoration method 700, according to one embodiment of the invention. Line-of-sight restoration method 700 restores a line-of-sight between a main camera 705 and a target 710 by rotating main camera 705 either counterclockwise or clockwise about target 710, based upon classifying polygonal sides 715 a-715 g intersected by lines 725 constructed from camera 705 to target 710. In one embodiment of the invention, system 100 classifies polygonal sides 715 a-715 g into groups such as “clockwise,” “counter-clockwise,” “straddling,” “above,” and “below.” In addition, any polygonal side 715 may be classified into one or more groups.

In operation, system 100 constructs three rays 725 a-725 c from camera 705 to target 710, where a first ray 725 a passes through a center of a collision probe 730, a second ray 725 b is constructed parallel to first ray 725 a and is tangent to collision probe 730 at a first point P₁ on a circumference of collision probe 730, and a third ray 725 c is constructed parallel to first ray 725 a and is tangent to a second point P₂ on the circumference of collision probe 730. Rays 725 a-725 c may intersect one or more polygonal sides 715 comprising one or more objects.

For example, if first ray 725 a and second ray 725 b and/or third ray 725 c intersect a same polygonal side 715, then system 100 classifies that polygonal side 715 as “straddling.” In the FIG. 7 embodiment of the invention, system 100 classifies polygonal sides 715 a and 715 b as “straddling,” since rays 725 a, 725 b, and 725 c intersect polygonal side 715 a and rays 725 a and 725 c intersect polygonal side 715 b.

Furthermore, if a given polygonal side 715 is intersected only by second ray 725 b, then system 100 classifies the given polygonal side 715 as “clockwise,” since system 100 may rotate main camera 705 counterclockwise to eliminate the given polygonal side 715 from the line-of-sight. For example, system 100 classifies polygonal sides 715 c-715 g as “clockwise,” since each polygonal side 715 c-715 g is intersected only by second ray 725 b. Thus, system 100 may remove polygonal sides 715 c-715 g from the line-of-sight by rotating main camera 705 counterclockwise through an angle θ.

Alternatively, if other polygonal sides (not shown) are intersected only by third ray 725 c, then system 100 classifies the other polygonal sides as “counterclockwise,” since system 100 may rotate camera 705 clockwise to eliminate the other polygonal sides from the line-of-sight. In addition, system 100 may use other rays (not shown) to determine if polygonal sides 715 should be classified as “above” or “below.” For example, if system 100 classifies polygonal side 715 a as “above,” then system 100 rotates camera 705 into plane (i.e., below plane) of FIG. 7 to remove polygonal side 715 a from the line-of-sight. However, if system 100 classifies polygonal side 715 a as “below,” then system 100 rotates camera 705 out of plane (i.e., above plane) of FIG. 7 to remove polygonal side 715 a from the line-of-sight.

According to the invention, if system 100 detects only clockwise polygonal sides or clockwise and straddling polygonal sides, then system 100 can restore a line-of-sight to target 710 by rotating camera 705 counterclockwise until system 100 does not detect any clockwise and straddling polygonal sides. Similarly, if system 100 detects only counterclockwise polygonal sides or counterclockwise and straddling polygonal sides, then system 100 can restore the line-of-sight view to target 710 by rotating camera 705 clockwise. In addition, if system 100 detects counterclockwise and clockwise polygonal sides and does not detect straddling polygonal sides, then camera 705 is looking between the counterclockwise and clockwise polygonal sides, and system 100 does not rotate camera 705.

FIG. 8 illustrates a third line-of-sight restoration method 800, according to one embodiment of the invention. Line-of-sight restoration method 800 improves a line-of-sight view of a target 810 at least partially obstructed by clockwise polygonal sides 815 and 820, and a counterclockwise polygonal side 825, by first decreasing a distance between a camera 805 and target 810, and then rotating camera 805 about target 810 to restore an improved line-of-sight view of target 810. System 100 may use third line-of-sight restoration method 800 when the line-of-sight view of target 810 is partially blocked by at least one counterclockwise polygonal side (e.g., counterclockwise polygonal side 825) and at least one clockwise polygonal side (e.g., clockwise polygonal side 815 or 820), but is unobstructed by any straddling polygonal sides (i.e., camera 805 views target 810 between two objects comprised of clockwise and counterclockwise polygonal sides).

For example, according to the FIG. 8 embodiment of the invention, system 100 first detects clockwise polygonal sides 815 and 820, and counterclockwise polygonal side 825. Then, system 100 determines a first distance and a second distance from camera 805 to clockwise polygonal sides 815 and 820, respectively, and a third distance from camera 805 to counterclockwise polygonal side 825. Using the first, second, and third distances, system 100 relocates camera 805 such that camera 805 is located between clockwise polygonal side 820 and counterclockwise polygonal side 825. Finally, system 100 uses second line-of-sight restoration method 700 (FIG. 7) to rotate camera 805 about target 810 such that a new, improved line-of-sight view of target 810 is generated.

FIG. 9 illustrates an emergency line-of-sight restoration method 900, according to one embodiment of the invention. If a main camera 905 loses a line-of-sight with a target 910 (i.e., line-of-sight between camera 905 and target 910 is obstructed), and if system 100 is not able to recover an unobstructed line-of-sight by any methods disclosed herein, such as line-of-sight restoration methods 600 (FIG. 6), 700 (FIG. 7), and 800 (FIG. 8), then system 100 moves camera 905 sequentially along a series of old target locations 915 a-915 e. If, after a predetermined time interval or a predetermined number of old target locations 915, camera 905 does not have an unobstructed view of target 910, then system 100 may relocate camera 905 to an old target location 915 i, for example, more recently occupied by target 910 than old target locations 915 a-915 e. If necessary, system 100 may repeat relocating camera 905 to other more recently occupied target locations (not shown) until an unobstructed line-of-sight view of target 910 is found. Moving camera 905 to old target locations 915 a-915 e or to a more recently occupied target location 915 i may quickly restore unobstructed line-of-sight views of target 910 and allow players to follow target 910 through complex structures, such as long narrow corridors, windows, and holes in floors.

FIG. 10 illustrates camera path smoothing 1000, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 includes a main camera 1005, a main camera navigation path 1010, a smoothed navigation path 1015, and multiple velocity attenuation vectors t. In the FIG. 10 embodiment of the invention, main camera navigation path 1010 is wiggly. The wiggling of main camera navigation path 1010 may be a result of system 100 using first line-of-sight restoration method 600 (FIG. 6A), second line-of-sight restoration method 700 (FIG. 7), third line-of-sight restoration method 800 (FIG. 8), emergency line-of-sight restoration method 900 (FIG. 9), or any combination of restoration methods 600, 700, 800, and 900. In one embodiment of the invention, system 100 computes the multiple velocity attenuation vectors t at points along main camera navigation path 1010, determines if any of the multiple velocity attenuation vectors t require scaling and performs any required scaling, and attenuates a velocity of main camera 1005 at each point along main camera navigation path 1010 by adding an associated velocity attenuation vector t to the velocity of main camera 1005. Thus, camera path smoothing 1000 generates smoothed camera navigation path 1015 for camera tracking that reduces abrupt changes in camera velocity and player disorientation.

In operation, system 100 computes a velocity attenuation vector t₂, for example, at a point P by subtracting a first unit velocity vector u₁ associated with motion of main camera 1005 along main camera navigation path 1010 prior to point P from a second unit velocity vector u₂ associated with motion of main camera 1005 along main camera navigation path 1010 subsequent to point P. That is, system 100 computes t₂=u₂−u₁, where u₁=v₁/|v₁|, u₂=v₂/|v₂|, and v₁ is a velocity of main camera 1005 prior to point P and v₂ is a velocity of main camera 1005 subsequent to point P. System 100 computes other velocity attenuation vectors t in a similar manner. Next, system 100 computes an average velocity VP of main camera 1005 at point P for main camera 1005 moving along main camera navigation path 1010. In one embodiment of the invention, the average velocity v_(P) at point P is an average of main camera 1005's velocity v₁ prior to point P and main camera 1005's velocity v₂ subsequent to point P, such that v_(p)=(v₁+v₂)/2.

Subsequently, system 100 computes a vector dot product v_(P)·t₂. If system 100 determines that v_(P)·t₂ is greater than or equal to zero, then v_(P) does not have a vector component directed opposite vector t₂, and consequently system 100 does not attenuate average velocity v_(P) of main camera 1005. Therefore, system 100 generates a new average velocity V_(P) ^(new) that is identical to the average velocity v_(P) (i.e., V_(P) ^(new)=V_(P)). However, if system 100 determines that v_(P)·t₂ is less than zero, then system 100 computes an amount of attenuation to be applied to v_(P). In a first case, if a magnitude of the vector component of v_(P) directed opposite t₂ is less than the magnitude of t₂ (i.e., |(v_(P)·t₂)/t₂|<|t₂|), then system 100 attenuates v_(P) by the vector component of v_(P) directed opposite t₂ to generate the v_(P) ^(new). That is, v_(P) ^(new)=v_(P)+(v_(P)·t₁)/t₁.

In a second case, if the magnitude of the vector component of v_(P) directed opposite of t₂ is greater than or equal to the magnitude of t₂ (i.e., |(v_(P)·t₂)/t₂|≧|t₂|), then system 100 attenuates v_(P) by t₂ to generate the v_(p) ^(new). That is, v_(p) ^(new)=v_(p)+t₂. Finally, upon generation of the new average velocity vectors v_(P) ^(new) of main camera 1005 at all points along main camera navigation path 1010, system 100 uses the new average velocity vectors v_(P) ^(new) and main camera navigation path 1010 to construct smoothed navigation path 1015 for camera tracking.

The invention has been explained above with reference to several embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. The present invention may readily be implemented using configurations other than those described in the embodiments above. Additionally, the present invention may effectively be used in conjunction with systems other than those described in the embodiments above. Therefore, these and other variations upon the disclosed embodiments are intended to be covered by the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A method for camera navigation in a gaming environment, comprising: sending a collision probe on a straight line path between a main camera and a target, wherein the collision probe is sent on the straight line path as a result of a processor executing software stored in memory of a computing device; detecting a line-of-sight obstruction between the main camera and the target, wherein the detection occurs in response to a processor executing software stored in memory of the computing device; moving the main camera according to one or more line-of-sight restoration methods to provide an unobstructed view of the target, wherein the processor causes the main camera to move in response to execution of software stored in memory at the computing device; and alternating a view of the gaming environment from the main camera to a special case camera when the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods fails to provide an unobstructed view of the target, alternation of the view occurring in response to a processor executing software stored in memory at the computing device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the collision probe is a sphere.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the line-of-sight obstruction is detected when the collision probe intersects one or more polygonal sides of one or more objects.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods displaces the main camera by a resultant displacement vector R, the resultant displacement vector R constructed from unit normal vectors r to the one or more intersected polygonal sides.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods rotates the main camera by an angle θ about the target based upon types of the one or more intersected polygonal sides.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the main camera is rotated counterclockwise by the angle θ about the target when the one or more intersected polygonal sides consist either of clockwise polygonal sides, or straddling and clockwise polygonal sides.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the main camera is rotated clockwise by the angle θ about the target when the one or more intersected polygonal sides consist either of counterclockwise polygonal sides, or straddling and counterclockwise polygonal sides.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods moves the main camera closer to the target, then rotates the main camera by an angle θ about the target based upon types of the one or more intersected polygonal sides when the collision probe detects at least one clockwise polygonal side and at least one counterclockwise polygonal side.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the main camera is moved between one of the at least one clockwise polygonal sides and one of the at least one counterclockwise polygonal sides.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods moves the camera to one or more old target locations in an attempt to provide an unobstructed view of the target.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods moves the main camera sequentially to the one or more old target locations.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising smoothing a main camera navigation path to reduce viewer disorientation.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein smoothing the main camera navigation path includes: computing velocity attenuation vectors t based on wiggling of the main camera navigation path; adding each velocity attenuation vector t to an associated camera velocity vector to generate attenuated camera velocity vectors; and using the main camera navigation path and the attenuated camera velocity vectors to generate a smoothed main camera navigation path.
 14. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a computer to perform a method for camera navigation in a gaming environment, the method comprising: sending a collision probe on a straight line path between a main camera and a target; detecting a line-of-sight obstruction between the main camera and the target; and moving the main camera according to one or more line-of-sight restoration methods to provide an unobstructed view of the target; and alternating a view of the gaming environment from the main camera to a special case camera when the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods fails to provide an unobstructed view of the target.
 15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the collision probe is a sphere.
 16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the line-of-sight obstruction is detected if the collision probe intersects one or more polygonal sides of one or more objects.
 17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods displaces the main camera by a resultant displacement vector R, the resultant displacement vector R constructed from unit normal vectors r to the one or more intersected polygonal sides.
 18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods rotates the main camera by an angle θ about the target based upon types of the one or more intersected polygonal sides.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the main camera is rotated counterclockwise by the angle θ about the target when the one or more intersected polygonal sides consist either of clockwise polygonal sides, or straddling and clockwise polygonal sides.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the main camera is rotated clockwise by the angle θ about the target when the one or more intersected polygonal sides consist either of counterclockwise polygonal sides, or straddling and counterclockwise polygonal sides.
 21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods moves the main camera closer to the target, then rotates the main camera by an angle θ about the target based upon types of the one or more intersected polygonal sides when the collision probe detects at least one clockwise polygonal side and at least one counterclockwise polygonal side.
 22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the main camera is moved between one of the at least one clockwise polygonal sides and one of the at least one counterclockwise polygonal sides.
 23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods moves the main camera to one or more old target locations in an attempt to provide an unobstructed view of the target.
 24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the one of the one or more line-of-sight restoration methods moves the main camera sequentially to the one or more old target locations.
 25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising smoothing a main camera navigation path to reduce viewer disorientation.
 26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein smoothing the camera navigation path includes: computing velocity attenuation vectors t based on wiggling of the main camera navigation path; adding each velocity attenuation vector t to an associated camera velocity vector to generate attenuated camera velocity vectors; and using the main camera navigation path and the attenuated camera velocity vectors to generate a smoothed main camera navigation path. 